Air India staffer held for allegedly smuggling red sanders

New Delhi: Five fliers, including a woman staffer of Air India, have been intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle about 160 kgs of the costly red sanders wood.

PTI [ Updated: October 24, 2013 7:01 IST ]

air india staffer held for allegedly smuggling red sanders

New Delhi: Five fliers, including a woman staffer of Air India, have been intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle about 160 kgs of the costly red sanders wood.

The woman, who is said to have been working as a ground staff for the national carrier, had arrived at the airport to board a flight to Hong Kong, official sources said.

The AI staff, who was with her father and three other passengers, was intercepted late night and their baggage was subsequently scanned upon suspicion, they said.

The officials recovered about 160 kilograms of red sanders wood, valuing Rs 24 lakh in the international market.

Illegal trade of the wood is banned and it is a protected species under international laws, they said.

The woman AI staffer and other passengers are being interrogated, the sources said.

In a separate case, two Air India flight attendants from Mumbai, Milind Davane and Nidhin Korah, were arrested at the airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 56 kg sandalwood to Hong Kong on Sunday.